Asia-Pacific

N Korea 'to retaliate' over UN move

North says Seoul's calls for UN action over warship sinking could trigger war.

07 Jun 2010 11:52 GMT

South Korea's president Lee Myung-bak has trod a delicate line in his criticism of the North [AFP]

"This is another intolerable and grave provocation to us, and a reckless challenge to the public opinions at home and abroad," the North's Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland said in a statement.

"The South Korean puppets will never avoid a stern punishment by our military and people, and also strong protests from the southern people if they continue the smear campaign against the DPRK [North Korea]."

The committee, which handles North Korea's relations with the South, did not elaborate on the form of retaliation it would take.

'Provocation'

South Korea has said it wants the 15-member Security Council to "respond in a manner appropriate to the gravity of North Korea's military provocation in order to deter recurrence of any further provocation by North Korea".